NOVEL NEXT Chapter 52: Don't Give Us Away, Master
Dante was sitting in the village square as the last screams died out once his monsters found the hiding humans. Flames washed across the town, causing buildings to crumble into rubble as the creatures dragged bodies toward him. He threw them into the Domain when Luna appeared beside him.
A big smile stretched across her face. ''That was a wonderful slaughter, I found some Demi-Human slaves and freed them, I hope you don't mind.''
He eyed the wolf woman cautiously, his gaze sharp, then gave a nod. ''That's fine. I've got no problem with your kind, it's the humans I can't stand.''
Luna placed her soft hand on his arm, sending a shock through his body as she reassured him. ''That's good, the ones on Nemaroth are wicked, cruel, and evil.''
The Death Army surged back to him, their bodies slick with blood, buzzing with the thrill of battle. Dante dismissed them to the Domain to prepare for the next fight. As they vanished, Luna shifted into her massive wolf form, her fur glinting under the light. He climbed onto her back, sinking into the warmth, a wave of relief washing over him as he finally rested.
Following that, the duo continued their journey, the village lay in ruins behind them, flames licking at the shattered remains of homes, casting an eerie glow against the night sky. The once-lively hamlet was now silent, save for the occasional crackle of burning wood. Dante felt the weight of the destruction settle in his chest, though his face remained unreadable.
'It doesn't matter,' he thought. 'All humans are evil and deserve no mercy.'
Luna's paws crunched softly over the ash-strewn ground as she padded toward the road leading to Blackharbor. The air grew cooler as they left the smoldering wreckage behind, the acrid scent of smoke fading into the crisp night breeze. Her powerful strides took them far, soon finding themselves on a dirt path that stretched toward the distant port city.
Dante leaned forward, one hand gripping her fur, the other resting on the hilt of his dagger, ever vigilant thanks to the human assassins who tried to attack. The road to Blackharbor was long, flanked by shadowy woods and jagged cliffs. While sitting there, he checked the upgrades he got thanks to the Death Army.
[Level Up: 113>115]
[Experience: 13,400/20,000]
[MANA: 318>320]
[HP:282>284]
[STR: 336>338]
[DEX: 345>347]
[INT: 278>280]
[CHA: 154>156]
[Death Points: 14,600>18,000]
Dante's eyes widened at this, but he was happy as his status kept growing, and decided to save up the Death Points and upgrade attributes once he had a nice lump. As he was in his own world, Luna's voice echoed in his mind. 'Master, we're being followed by a group of monsters. They're harmless, though they might attract attention.'
''Leave them be,'' he answered, scanning their surroundings only to see frog humanoids hiding in the long grass.
His Death Eyes flared to life and got information on the creatures.
[Frogmen - E Rank - Scavengers]
Dante's brow arched at the new information, a flicker of suspicion crossing his face. Without hesitation, he unleashed a barrage of Death Bolts, dark energy crackling through the air, sending the Frogmen scattering deeper into the swaying grasslands. As their croaking retreated, his sharp eyes caught sight of a stone road cutting through the distance.
He tensed, gripping the wolf's fur tighter. ''Luna, hold up,'' he warned. ''Darkmoore soldiers are patrolling that road. We'll be spotted if we're not careful.''
Following that, Dante slid off the older woman's back as she transformed into her humanoid form. Once that was done, she grabbed his arm as the duo continued walking, only to see an outpost in the distance. When Luna saw this, her blue eyes narrowed. ''Looks like you were right, master,'' she revealed.
''It doesn't matter, they will be the last survivors on Nemaroth,'' he responded, a wicked glint in his eyes. ''When my undead hordes spread out, they'll hunt down the remaining humans while leaving the Demi-Humans alone, allowing them to spread the story to the Darkmoore king.''
When the older woman heard this, an excited expression appeared on her pretty face as she suddenly hugged him. ''Such a devious plan, but I love it,'' she admitted.
Moments later, the air was thick thanks to the scent of distant smoke, the remains of the burning village fading behind them. As they crested a low hill, Dante's sharp eyes caught a towering structure piercing the afternoon sky, a massive watcher tower, its weathered wooden walls encircled by a sturdy palisade.
Torches flickered along the ramparts, casting a glow over the bustling gate below. His curiosity stirred, Dante slowed his pace, taking in the scene. The gate, flanked by grim-faced soldiers in dark armor, was a hive of activity. They observed a stream of carts and travelers, inspecting cargo, barrels of grain, crates of supplies, and weary souls seeking refuge.
Among them, Dante spotted hundreds of refugees, their faces etched with exhaustion and fear, clutching belongings as they shuffled forward, desperate for sanctuary. He turned to the older woman, a plan already forming in his mind. ''We need a story to get through. Let's say we're a married couple from Dreadport, fleeing the chaos thanks to you being a Demi-Human.''
Luna's eyes sparkled with mischief, a broad grin spreading across her face. ''Sounds good to me,'' she said, her tone playful yet confident, ready to follow his lead.
She adjusted her cloak, letting her wolf ears peek through, just enough to sell their lie. He gave her a nod, his expression steely when they approached the gate, blending into the throng of refugees, keeping their wits sharp for whatever lay beyond the walls. By the time they reached the line through the watchtower, the weather had gotten worse.
Dante wrapped his cloak tightly around himself, the fabric shielding him from the chill night air and prying eyes. Luna copied, her own draping over her curvy frame.. They advanced, blending into the weary caravan of refugees trudging toward the gate. As they neared, the soldiers waved them through, their attention split among the crowd.
His aura, a volatile pulse of dark energy, threatened to flare as he passed within arm's reach of the soldiers, his deep-seated hatred for humans simmering. With a sharp breath, he controlled it, his jaw tightening as he fought to keep his composure. Luna's hand found his arm, her grip firm yet reassuring, grounding him in the moment.
''Don't give us away, master,'' she whispered, her voice low and teasing, a sly smirk curling her lips. ''Save that fire for Blackharbor. We'll have plenty of fun once we're inside.''
Her eyes glinted with mischief, and he felt the tension in his chest ease. Her confidence steadied him as they slipped through the gate that led to the last city standing on Nemaroth. Once through the watchtower, he turned around and noticed even more soldiers patrolling the all.
Following that, they continued as Dante pulled out some noodles and started eating as the sun set. Luna nudged him, pointing toward a sea of tents. ''Why don't we camp with the refugees?''
''Good idea,'' he replied, slurping down some food. ''We can look for powerful warriors and turn them to our side.''
Moments later, Dante stowed the noodles in his storage ring, he then retrieved their tent. The flickering torchlight from nearby cast long shadows across the clearing just bordered by a rushing river, where clusters of refugees had begun to settle for the night. He knelt, unfurling the canvas and driving the first stake into the soft earth.
Other refugees, huddled in small groups, watched the pair with a mix of wariness and intrigue. Some whispered among themselves, their eyes lingering on Luna's cloaked figure and the faint. Dante ignored them, his hands threading the tent's poles, though he remained aware of every sound and shift in the crowd.
Luna kept watch, her sharp blue eyes scanning for any hint of trouble as she leaned against a gnarled tree, her smirk barely concealed. The air buzzed with the quiet tension of strangers bound by circumstance, but Dante pressed on, securing their shelter as the night deepened around them.
Once it was set up, he turned to the beautiful brown-skinned woman and ushered her inside. ''Come on, get inside and get comfortable. It's gonna get cold tonight,'' he said.
Following that, the two of them got cozy as Dante pulled out the food he was eating and continued, but offered Luna some, which she accepted as long as it wasn't spicy, making him chuckle when remembering her expression. Just then, thunder boomed overhead, causing people to scream outside.
The older woman's ears twitched while he tail swayed side to side as she ate. Dante listened to the rain hitting the tent as the guards outside shouted for people to stay inside, thanks to monsters appearing at the edges, scaring the refugees even more. He ignored it and continued eating the noodles that his grown addicted to.